the fact that there were people who would willingly die for another, but Charlotte Franklin’s willingness to put herself in harm’s way for her child was the first example of that selfless dedication he’d ever seen. He supposed that his mother might once have loved him like that, but he didn’t remember it. He glanced back at Rachel, who was still sitting on the steps.
“Yeah. I can only imagine,” he said softly. Then he raised his voice a notch. “Come on, little girl, it’s time to go inside.”
To Charlie’s surprise, Rachel minded the stranger and followed them in. As soon as Judd put her down, Rachel crawled up in Charlie’s lap and laid her head on her mother’s breast.
“Is she okay?” Judd asked.
Charlie nodded. “Just a little confused, I think. She’ll be all right.” Then she pointed toward the phone. “There’s a phone book in the drawer underneath.”
Judd shook his head. “You come first. If you don’t mind me prowling a bit, I want to put some ice on your ankle.”
“The kitchen is that way,” Charlie said. “There are some plastic bags in the drawer beside the sink and there’s an ice maker in the top of the fridge.”
Judd headed for the kitchen, returning shortly with a bag full of ice wrapped in a towel. Charlie winced when he laid it on her ankle.
“Sorry,” Judd said. “Does your husband work nearby?”
The tone of Charlie’s voice never wavered. “I don’t have a husband.”
Judd glanced at Rachel, then at Charlie, then fussed with the bag of ice just for something to do.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories. It’s just that you can’t be here by yourself. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
Charlie sighed. The man was getting the wrong impression, and while it really didn’t matter what he thought, she felt obligated to explain.
“I am not a widow. To the contrary, I have never been married. And yes, there is someone—my brother, Wade. If you don’t mind handing me the phone, I’ll give him a call.”
Judd turned, then stopped and stared. “There’s a police car coming down your driveway.”
A wave of emotion suddenly washed over Charlie. Wade was hardly ever home on time. Thank God this was one of those rare days. To her surprise, she felt tears threatening again.
She took a deep breath, trying to still the tremble in her voice. “That would be Wade. He’s the police chief in Call City.”
Judd stiffened, then made himself relax, accepting the irony of the situation. He’d driven halfway across the country to get away from law enforcement, and the first time he lingered long enough to exchange names, they were tied to the same damned branch of government.
A few moments later, the officer who’d been driving the car came through the door, his eyes wide with concern. Judd braced himself for the confrontation.
Wade had been looking forward to an easy evening until he’d seen the destruction to the pasture fence. His mood had taken a quick swing downward and was far from level when he came through the door. Seeing Charlie’s tears and the stranger standing next to her, his hand automatically slid to the butt of his gun.
“Charlie…honey…what the hell happened?”
“It’s okay,” Charlie said, and then started to cry in earnest.
Judd sighed. She’d been bordering on hysteria ever since he’d pulled her out of the dirt. It was inevitable that she would finally break down. What surprised him was the urge he had to comfort her.
Wade moved toward Charlie, but his attention was completely focused on the man standing next to her.
“Easy, buddy,” Judd said, “I’m the good guy here.” Then he offered his hand. “My name is Judd Hanna.”
Wade nodded, but reserved the right to the handshake until after he knew some more facts. Judd shrugged. He couldn’t really blame him.
“What the hell happened to the fence?” Wade said, looking straight at Judd. “Did it run into your car?”
Judd laughed out loud. Even Charlie managed to chuckle through tears. Rachel giggled, too, although the joke was over her head, and then she pointed out the door.
“Big bull.”
Wade frowned. “What bull, honey?”
Charlie choked on a sob. “Oh, Wade. Tucker’s bull…it was in our pasture again. I couldn’t find Rachel, and then I saw her…and the bull was charging…but I couldn’t outrun…if it hadn’t been for…he drove through the fence and…I fell and it was…oh, God, Wade, the bull would have killed her.”
She shuddered, then buried her face against the back of Rachel’s neck.
All the color faded from Wade Franklin’s face. He looked at Judd, and this time, he was the one who offered his hand.
“Mister, I suppose we’ll sort out the details later, but if I’m understanding the situation here, you just saved their lives, and if that’s so, then there aren’t enough words to thank you.”
Judd shrugged, a little embarrassed at being the sudden focus of attention. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
Too overcome to speak, Wade impulsively hugged him. Judd was still reeling from the impact of being royally thumped on the back when Wade let him go and shifted his focus to Charlie.
He squatted down beside her and lifted the ice from her foot. “I think you need to see a doctor,” he said, then took out his handkerchief and wiped at the tears and dirt on her face as if she was a child.
Charlie caught his hand. “No, it’s just a sprain. I’ll be fine.”
Judd’s heart twisted again. The closeness between brother and sister only served as a reminder of what was missing in his life.
“About that phone call,” Judd said. “If you’d recommend a towing service and a motel, I’ll be out of your hair.”
Wade rocked back on his heels. “There aren’t any motels in Call City, and the only tow truck is out on a call. I know because I sent him.”
Then he glanced at Charlie. She nodded. They had no options but to offer their home to the man. After all he’d done, it was the least they could do.
“Charlie and I would consider it an honor to put you up for the night.”
Judd shook his head. “That’s not necessary. I’ve slept in my car plenty of times. It won’t hurt me to do it again.”
“No,” Charlie said. “You’ll stay in the house, with us.”
He took a deep breath and looked down. Even with the dirt on her face, Charlotte Franklin was a good-looking woman, but it was the expression in her eyes that swayed him. She needed to make reparation. Whether he wanted to or not, he felt obligated to accept her hospitality.
“Then I thank you,” he said. “And just to make sure you folks don’t feel the need to sleep with a gun under your pillow, would it make you feel better to know I’m a cop?”
Wade’s smile was one of relief as he stood abruptly. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?”
“Probably because I’m AWOL from my precinct,” Judd said. “And, before you assume the worst, I’m not in trouble, I just got fed up.”
Wade’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. “Yeah, that can happen.”
Judd handed Wade a card with the phone number on it.
“Call the Tulsa, Oklahoma, P.D. Ask for Captain Roger Shaw. He’ll vouch for my honesty, if not my sanity.”
Charlie